Empoli president Fabrizio Corsi has spoken of his pride at seeing Inter midfielder Kristjan Asllani develop after leaving the club last summer.
The Albania international came through Empoli’s youth academy before signing for Inter in 2022 on an initial loan deal, with a view to a permanent transfer this summer, and the 20-year-old saw Corsi feel a mixture of pride and regret at losing him so soon.
In an interview with Empoli’s official club website, Corsi offered his thoughts on the Azzurri’s development of young talent and pointed to Asllani and defender Mattia Viti, who joined Nice last year, as examples of how the club could produce players to make an impact.
“There are at least ten or twelve guys who can become the next Tommaso Baldanzi, Mattia Viti or Jacopo Fazzini,” Corsi said of the players coming through at Empoli.
“Players with all the credentials to get to Serie A, they are an asset. Viti and Kristjan Asllani are a source of pride for us, because I’ve been following them since they were 10 years old and I feel part of their journey.
“The regret is that I don’t have the strength to keep them a little longer, but we are Empoli and we have to respect certain parameters.”
Asllani has made seven appearances for Inter in Serie A this season, in addition to a further five games in the Champions League, as he attempts to establish himself in the Nerazzurri’s midfield.
